Realizing you have bad breath can make any person want to hide out at home. It’s almost never intentional and most people would like to prevent having bad breath. While for some people, the solution is simply to remember to brush their teeth and tongue, for others, the solution might be a little more complicated. In this article, we’ll discuss what actually causes bad breath and what you can do about it. Keep reading!
What causes bad breath
There are plenty of possible reasons why a person has bad breath. It can be as simple as eating smelly foods, or it can stem from underlying issues. If you have bad breath and are wondering why, consider some of the most common causes of bad breath below.
Food
Food breaking down around your teeth can encourage bacterial growth and cause bad breath. Certain foods like garlic, onions, and certain spices can especially cause a bad odor. Since you of course can’t avoid food just to prevent bad breath, practicing proper oral hygiene can help mitigate these effects.
Tobacco
There are plenty of consequences to using tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. Some of these consequences include periodontal disease, irritated gums, and even cancer. Another consequence of using tobacco is that it can cause bad breath.
Inadequate oral hygiene
If you want fresh-smelling breath, look at your oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, food particles remain in your mouth, allowing bacteria called plaque to form on your teeth. Plaque can eventually lead to gum disease, which is another cause of bad breath.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, leads to bad breath by reducing saliva production, which is essential for washing away food particles that cause bad breath. While constant dry mouth can be the result of problems with the glands that produce saliva, dry mouth naturally occurs while you sleep, and is the cause of “morning breath.” It also gets worse if you sleep with your mouth open.
Medication
Certain medications can also lead to bad breath for a number of reasons. For example, some medications cause dry mouth, which then leads to bad breath. Or your body breaks down other medicines and releases chemicals that can cause bad breath.
Other conditions
There are many other conditions that could be the source of bad breath. This includes postnasal drip, which is when fluid from your nose goes through the back of your throughs, often as a result of infections or swelling in the nose, sinuses, or throat. This may also include some cancers that can cause a distinct odor or disorders that affect the body, breaking down food into energy. Other conditions that can cause bad breath are chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, or liver or kidney disorders.
How to get rid of bad breath
Now that we’ve covered some of the most common causes of bad breath, it’s important for you to know what you can do to prevent bad breath.
Drink water
Drinking water helps prevent bad breath by reducing the food particles on your teeth and gums, which produce bacteria and cause bad breath. Drinking enough water also stimulates saliva production and prevents dry mouth, another common culprit of bad breath. Regular hydration can help you maintain a cleaner, fresher-smelling mouth, along with the numerous other benefits of drinking plenty of water.
Avoid tobacco
It’s no secret that smoking and tobacco products cause bad breath. And often, because smoking can affect your sense of smell, many smokers don’t realize how bad their breath smells. So, avoiding tobacco can help prevent bad breath as well as a myriad of other health issues. Without tobacco, there’s also a lower risk of gum disease, which contributes to bad breath.
Maintain your oral hygiene
Taking care of your oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day can help you prevent bad breath. Frequently using mouthwash and tongue scrapers to remove particles from your tongue can also help you maintain a clean mouth and fresher breath.
Visit your dentist regularly
As stated previously, gum disease can cause bad breath. It can also cause red or swollen gums, loose teeth, and bleeding gums. So make sure to visit your dentist regularly for dental check-ups and cleanings so your dentist can identify and treat oral health issues.
Visit Dr. Ruiz & Associates for a dentist in Burbank
If you’re in the area and are looking for a Burbank dentist, come visit our office, Dr. Ruiz & Associates, Inc! Dr. Ruiz is a respected dentist, educator, and researcher who uses supra-gingival dentistry. Supra-gingival dentistry is “above the gums dentistry” that protects soft oral tissues, making it a healthier form of dentistry while also producing long-lasting, beautiful results. Check out our Google reviews and schedule an appointment with us!
